September 11, 2012

Posted by Bill Esterson on September 11, 2012

Publication of the Hillsborough Panel report is all about the 96 men, women and children who died after going to watch a football match.

Earlier this year, the Home Secretary, Theresa May announced that all papers held by the government relating to Hillsborough would be released and that the panel would be able to review them. The report is being released to relatives before being published.

In parliament, there will be a statement from the Prime Minister in response to the report.

After the release to relatives of the victims, the papers reviewed by the Hillsborough Panel will later be disclosed to the wider public. The panel will also deliver a report explaining how the disclosed documents add to public understanding of the disaster.

The publication of the report will be difficult for the families and for many others across Merseyside and across the country as it will bring the memories of that terrible day flooding back.

Answers are needed to questions about:

* Who took the decision to open the gate into the central pen at Leppings Lane? * Why there was a cut off time given by the coroner who said all victims were dead by 3.15pm when some like Kevin Williams from Formby was still alive much later? * Why ambulances were not allowed on the pitch?

There are calls for a change of verdict for Kevin and for many others. The report from the panel may give those calls fresh impetus.

And then there are questions about why Chief Superintendent Duckenfield was allowed to say that fans kicked down the gate and why The Sun made up its stories about the fans?

People across Merseyside still don’t buy The Sun and actually there are many football fans and others around the country who don’t buy it either.

There are also questions about why government officials and ministers made comments which were inaccurate and misleading at the time?

The report will be yet another painful reminder that will cause people to go through the pain and suffering so it is vitally important that the report addresses these and other issues raised by the families and by thousands of other people.

In parliament, MPs on all sides will be repeating the calls of the families and of many others for the evidence which comes to light to be used to bring about justice.

The Hillsborough Panel report is about the men, women and children who died on April 15 1989. Let us hope that the publication of the report brings the families nearer to justice for the 96.

The pain and suffering cannot be removed and the clock cannot be turned back but maybe the whole truth can finally be put on the record.

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